I think that any of us who are interested in books for children are also interested in children having childhoods rich in imagination.  NPR has an interesting piece on creative play for children and its importance in forming “executive function” such as self-regulation, cognitive flexibility and working memory.

The advice is common sense: children should be encouraged to play games where they dream, wish, pretend and invite.  Free play should be an integral part of their lives.  My youngest son has a way of pretending that he has done since he was tiny.  He whooshes around running, talking to himself and making loud explosive noises every so often.  He won’t tell any of us what he is doing, and we have learned to just enjoy his orbiting.  I wouldn’t rob him of that time where he is obviously in another world all his own for anything.  In fact, when teachers tell us that our sons are both daydreamers, I take it as a great compliment.  Means that I did something right.

How about you?  Any daydreaming children?  Any who have such rich imaginations that they don’t need anyone else around to have fun?  Tell us!